Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday cast his vote in Russia’s latest legislative elections, joining millions of citizens participating in a nationwide process to elect members of the country’s 450-seat State Duma, the lower house of parliament.
According to a statement issued by the Kremlin, Putin voted electronically through Russia’s online voting system in elections that will determine the composition of the ninth convocation of the State Duma.
The parliamentary vote is taking place as part of Russia’s broader Single Voting Day, during which voters in several regions are also electing governors, regional leaders and local council representatives.
In a video address delivered ahead of the elections, Putin encouraged Russians to take part in the voting process, describing participation as important for national unity.
The Russian leader said the election was taking place at a significant moment for the country, noting that it was the first parliamentary election since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022.
According to Putin, voter participation would demonstrate national cohesion and contribute to what he described as Russia’s efforts in the ongoing conflict.
He called on citizens to cast their ballots, describing voting as a collective response to those he said were attempting to weaken Russia, hinder its development and challenge its sovereignty.
Voting began first in Russia’s easternmost regions because of the country’s extensive geographic size and multiple time zones.
State news agency Tass, citing regional election commissions, reported that polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time in the Chukotka and Kamchatka regions, among the first parts of Russia to begin voting.
Russia spans 11 time zones, ranging from GMT+2 to GMT+12, meaning that voting starts and ends at different times across the country.
The elections are not limited to the State Duma. Voters in eight regions are also selecting governors or regional heads, while parliamentary elections are being held in 39 regions. In addition, local council elections are taking place in the administrative centres of 10 regions.
According to Russia’s Central Election Commission, approximately 111 million people are eligible to vote in the parliamentary elections, including around 1.8 million Russian citizens living abroad.
Voting is taking place through traditional polling stations as well as through Russia’s remote electronic voting system, which has become an increasingly important part of the electoral process in recent years.
The voting period will continue until 8 p.m. local time on Sunday, allowing voters across the country's various time zones to participate.
A total of 11 political parties are contesting the elections for seats in the State Duma.
Among them are the ruling United Russia Party and the four political parties currently represented in parliament: the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, A Just Russia—For Truth, and New People.
Five parties that currently do not hold seats in the Duma are also participating in the elections. Among them is the liberal Yabloko Party, which was not included on the ballot under the party-list system for the parliamentary elections. However, individual candidates nominated by Yabloko are contesting seats in single-member constituencies.
The State Duma consists of 450 seats, with half of the seats filled through a party-list voting system and the remaining 225 seats elected through single-member constituencies.
The parliamentary elections are taking place amid continued international attention on Russia’s domestic politics and its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The vote is also an important part of Russia’s political calendar, determining the composition of the lower house of parliament, which plays a central role in the country’s legislative process.
As voting continues across the country, election authorities are expected to monitor turnout and oversee the counting of ballots over the coming days. Final results will determine the distribution of seats in the new State Duma and shape Russia’s parliamentary landscape for the next legislative term.
